Delbert McClinton is On Tour!

Delbert McClinton Biography

Delbert McClinton (born 4 November 1940, in Lubbock, Texas) is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. Active as a side-man since at least 1962 and as a band leader since 1972, he has recorded several major-label albums, and has charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-peaking single was "Tell Me About It", a 1992 duet with Tanya Tucker which reached #4 on the country charts.

Delbert McClinton honed his craft working in a bar band, The Straitjackets, backing visiting blues giants such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. He made his first recordings as a member of the Ron-Dels and was noted for his distinctive harmonica work on Bruce Channel's 1962 hit "Hey! Baby." A persistent urban legend holds that McClinton taught John Lennon to play the harmonica, resulting in the sound heard on The Beatles' hit "Love Me Do"; the two did meet, but Lennon already knew how to play the harmonica. Delbert is also an accomplished pianist.

Relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, McClinton emerged in a partnership with fellow Texan Glen Clark, performing a combination of country and soul music. They achieved a degree of artistic success, releasing two albums before splitting, with McClinton embarking on a solo career. Emmylou Harris had a number 1 hit in 1978 with his composition "Two More Bottles of Wine," and McClinton's "B Movie Boxcar Blues" was covered on the first album by The Blues Brothers, Briefcase Full of Blues. His 1980 album, The Jealous Kind, contained his only Top 40 hit single "Givin' It Up for Your Love", which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After a rest period during much of the '80s, McClinton made a welcome return in 1989 with the fiery album Live From Austin, taped during an Austin City Limits appearance. He won a 1991 Grammy for his duet with Bonnie Raitt, "Good Man, Good Woman", and reached the Top 5 of the country charts with the Tanya Tucker duet, "Tell Me About It." He recorded the opening title song "Weatherman" for the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. The fledgling label Rising Tide offered One of the Fortunate Few in 1997, but the label quickly folded. In addition to releasing two new studio albums in the early 2000s, New West Records issued Delbert McClinton Live in 2003, a compilation of songs from throughout his career. In 2006 McClinton won a Grammy Award for his album The Cost of Living in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category. Mel Fitzmundson was present to accept the award in his absence due to a broken leg.

Saw Delbert in a small venue in east Texas this summer and he proved he is getting better with age. One of the best concerts i have ever seen and i have been to plenty being from the mid west and close to St.Louis the only one that comes to mind that was close was the great Johnny Winter in St.Louis a few years ago.

Have seen the "mighty Del" about 10 times in the past 10 years and each time was GREAT! I'd go see him 10 more if he gave the opportunity. He's a special, classy gifted talent that I'm very thankful for getting to see. This paticular night in Owensboro he played about 3 hours of the best damned music this side of afghanistan. He's an inspiration to anyone who loves fantastic music (live and recorded) Boogie on Delbert McClinton from a distant friend and loyal fan, Chuck